History
It was organized by Dutch settlers on March 19, 1834 in the Colonial Farms area of what is now Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. [10] The initial three member committee included the first Reverend of the church Jacob Schultz. [11] The settlers had "migrated from Manhattan Island seeking more tillable land". [12] Residents were previously traveling to Reformed churches in Hillsborough, New Jersey; Franklin Park, New Jersey; or New Brunswick. [13] The few Dutch families initially met in a barn "in what is now O'Connor's Beef 'N Chowder House on Amwell Road" owned by the Voorhees family. [10] One descendant, Mary Amanda Voorhees, "Miss Amanda", later served as the church's organist for forty-five years. [7] "[S]ervices continued there until 1835, when the white frame church was completed". [10] Three locations for the church building were considered: one on Amwell Road north of the current location, one on South Middlebush Road south of the railroad tracks, and the current location on the corner of South Middlebush Road and Amwell Avenue. One acre of land was given for the church lot and about five more acres continuing along South Middlebush Road were purchased by the church. The acreage was divided into smaller lots and sold off in 1839. The cornerstone of the church building was laid on June 7, 1834. During construction, the search for a pastor began. Jacob I. Schultz (1792-1852), the pastor at Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and Lebanon, New Jersey was contacted. The new church building was dedicated on February 19, 1835. [14] The final cost was $3,989. [3] Schultz was formally installed as pastor on December 30, 1835.
Lightning destroyed the church building on July 2, 1917, [10] the New York Times noted part of the furniture was saved and the loss was estimated at $50,000. [8] Congregation members who lived nearby rescued furniture and the church membership book. A kerosene lamp was saved, and is currently hanging in the church. [10] [13] Planning for the new building at the same site started immediately but construction was delayed by World War I. [7] The Gothic revival building was rebuilt using stone from the Martinsville, New Jersey quarry. [7] [13] The church was rededicated in 1919. [7]
In 1972 the church set up a "mini" school. [15]
In 2003 the church started a living nativity which includes four readings from the Bible and ends with the adoration of the magi. [16] [17] The annual Christmastime event includes "costumed characters, live animals and carollers". [16]
The church celebrated their 175th anniversary in 2009. [13] They buried and sealed a time capsule to be opened at the congregation's 200th anniversary in 2034, 25 years later. [5]
Lebanon Township is the northernmost township in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 6,195, a decrease of 393 (−6.0%) from the 2010 census count of 6,588, which in turn reflected an increase of 772 (+13.3%) from the 5,816 counted in the 2000 census.
Franklin Township is a township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is centrally located in the Raritan Valley region, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 68,364, an increase of 6,064 (+9.7%) from the 2010 census count of 62,300, which in turn reflected an increase of 11,397 (+22.4%) from the 50,903 counted in the 2000 census. The township was the state's 19th most-populous municipality in 2020, after being ranked 22nd in 2010.
Routh Goshen, born Arthur James Caley, was most commonly known as Colonel Routh Goshen or the Arabian Giant or the Palestine Giant. He was billed as the tallest man in the world at 7 ft 11 in (2.41 m) and 620 pounds (280 kg) but was most likely no more than 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) and 400 pounds (180 kg). His true origins were kept secret from the public during his performance years in the United States and were obscured by the many apocryphal biographies that were created to publicize him. His actual origins came out slowly after his death. His birth name was Arthur James Caley and he was born on the Isle of Man in 1824. His fictional biographies said he was born in Jerusalem on May 5, 1837. After his retirement in the 1880s, he settled in Middlebush, New Jersey, and gained the nickname the Middlebush Giant.
The Meadows Foundation of Somerset County, New Jersey is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1978. It oversaw the restoration of seven historic houses in Somerset.
The Millstone and New Brunswick Railroad (M&NB) was chartered in the mid-19th century as a seven-mile long branch line from New Brunswick, New Jersey to East Millstone, New Jersey. Construction was completed and the line began operation on December 19, 1854. In 1871, under the order of the company's president Martin Howell, the M&NB signed a 999-year lease with the United Jersey Railroad Company, which would later become part of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) known as the "Millstone Branch." In 1915, the company was dissolved and became part of the United Jersey Railroad Company.
Six Mile Run is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in Franklin Township, in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 3,184.
The Franklin Inn was built by Cornelius Van Liew in 1752. Located at 2371 Amwell Road, East Millstone, New Jersey. Originally it was the Van Liew farmhouse, it has also been known as Annie Van Liew's house and, after being remodeled into a tavern and inn, the Franklin House Hotel. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property of the East Millstone Historic District on March 17, 1983.
The Van Wickle House, also known as the Symen Van Wickle House, is a historical house located at 1289 Easton Avenue in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. It was built in 1722 by Symen Van Wickle, also known as Symen Van Wicklin. The house, historically known as The Meadows, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 4, 1973.
Franklin Park is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Franklin Township, in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 13,295. Route 27 bisects the village and serves as the dividing line between the two counties. The adjacent sections of South Brunswick and North Brunswick, Middlesex County on the east side of Route 27 are also known as Franklin Park, but are not included within the CDP's boundaries.
The Sourlands is a region in the central portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey that includes portions of Hunterdon County, Mercer County, and Somerset County. It is centered on Sourland Mountain and comprises parts of Lambertville, East Amwell, West Amwell, Hillsborough, Hopewell Boro, Hopewell Township, and Montgomery Township. The region is flanked by the Hopewell Fault to the south and Amwell Valley to the north that runs from Mount Airy to an area just west of Flagtown and a diabase formation running from Lambertville to Mount Airy. The Sourland also include a hilly area towards the southwest called Pleasant Valley, with a number of farms. Although much of the Sourlands is not conducive to farming, Pleasant Valley and the slopes on the surrounding ridges have a number of farms. The slopes of the ridge to the north are also home to Unionville Vineyard.
The Middlebush Village Historic District is a historic district located in the Village of Middlebush, an unincorporated community within Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 24, 2007. It includes 37 contributing buildings and three contributing sites.
Colonial Farms, also known as the Voorhees House, is located at 1719 Amwell Road in the Middlebush section of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. It was built in 1793 by P. Metz in a Georgian style. It is part of the Middlebush Village Historic District. The oldest building in the district, it was used in 1834 to organized the Middlebush Reformed Church. The location also includes a contributing large, red shingle, 19th-century Dutch barn. It is now the Stage House Tavern.
The Six Mile Run Reformed Church is located at 3037 New Jersey Route 27 in Franklin Park of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. Built in 1879, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 2009, for its significance in architecture and music.
The Reverend Samuel Merrill Woodbridge, D.D., LL.D. was an American clergyman, theologian, author, and college professor. A graduate of New York University and the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Woodbridge preached for sixteen years as a clergyman in the Reformed Church in America.
The Millstone Historic District is a historic district located in Millstone, Somerset County, New Jersey. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 13, 1976 for its significance in education, military history, settlement, and transportation. It includes 58 contributing buildings.
Cloverhill is an unincorporated community located at the intersection of the boundaries of East Amwell and Raritan townships in Hunterdon County and Hillsborough Township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The Clover Hill Historic District was listed on the state and national registers of historic places in 1980.
The Readington Reformed Church is a historic church located at 124 Readington Road, Readington Village, an unincorporated community located within Readington Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It was known in colonial times as the Dutch Reformed Church of North Branch. It is the oldest Dutch Reformed Church in the county. The current building was built in 1865. The churchyard is known as the Readington Reformed Church Cemetery. The church was added as a contributing property of the Readington Village Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places on June 24, 1991.
Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church, also known as Spruce Run Lutheran Church, is located at 442 West Hill Road in the Spruce Run section of Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The congregation is a member of the New Jersey Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Franklin Corners is an unincorporated community located along the Passaic River at the intersection of County Route 613 and U.S. Route 202 in Bernards Township of Somerset County, New Jersey. In the 19th century, it had a grist mill, saw mill, general store, school, and several houses. The Franklin Corners Historic District, featuring Van Dorn's Mill, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
